Slowly, Slowly (ekphrastic poem)

20 Apr 2013 23 Comments

by Sharp Little Pencil in POETRY, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Slowly, Slowly (an ekphrastic poem: inspired by an image)

image: Blondine and the Tortoise, Virginia Frances Sterrett: Old French Fairy Tale

Slowly, Slowly

Dim, the forest
Hushed is the breeze
Stars sing o’er us
Quiet, the leaves

Travel slowly
on her smooth back
through the midnight
rambling, the track

Dodge all fauna,
trees of the ages
Carry me home
in dreamlike stages

© Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil

Imaginary Garden With Real Toads’ Kerry O’Connor granted me welcome release from events of the past week by gaving us several works by the same artist, Virginia Frances Sterrett, an American artist who died of tuberculosis at 30.  The illustrations, so intricate and dreamy, were the antidote, for a while, anyway, to Boston and its nightmarish week.  Who can imagine what this wildly talented woman could have produced, had she been granted a fuller lifetime?

I saw this image of the woman riding the tortoise and was thrown into a dream all my own. Who could see her work and not be entranced?  To view more of her sumptuous illustrations, click here.  Peace and prayers for the same, Amy

Zen Man

11 Jan 2013 41 Comments

by Sharp Little Pencil in Music, Nature, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , ,

(NOTE: This instrument, called the hang, is pronounced “hong.” Click on the video before you read the poem!)

 

ZEN MAN

Find him in nature
a shaded nook where
trees whisper stories of
the ancient ones.

Matthew finds a
perfect perch and
carefully lifts his hang,
its song to share.

Nimble, careful,
deliberate fingers seem
carved from soft wood,
burnished brown.

He conjures chords,
soothing harmonies,
unearthly sounds, yet
so natural: Soul songs.

In this moment there is only
Matt, the hang, and strains
of unrestrained bliss;
the gods conjured his gift.

And we, who were
a moment ago merely
bumps on a log are
lifted to a higher place…

Musical, ethereal, reflective, mindful.

© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Perfect moment for ABC Wednesday to feature the letter “Z.”

Also, Kim Nelson at Poets United (my poetic shady nook) asked for poems about reflection.

My cousin by marriage, Matt Venuti, is a soulful musician. Please visit his site, www.mattvenuti.com, for more videos and information about his art. He also plays the EVI and a variety of other instruments, but the hang has his heart at present.

He is also one of those musicians who didn’t get into it so he could drink and smoke on the job! He’s a gentle soul, utterly sincere, and wildly talented… yet humble. If you’re lucky, you’ll experience him performing live.

Peace from a lucky cousin, Amy

The Sweetest Presence

09 Nov 2012 26 Comments

by Sharp Little Pencil in POETRY Tags: , , , , , , , ,

The Sweetest Presence

A gift from her sister, I was
oooohed and aaaahed over

Now I hang on a rusty hook
near the back screen door

Listening to kids running
in, out, in, out, slam, slam

Her husband complains that
I’m in his way, bang

(He is too tall, but
I won’t be the one to say)

I was once a variety
of leftover spoons and forks

Then, refiner’s fire made me
flatware that’s really flat

Now comes a quiet breeze
breathing through me

and the gently moving silverware
makes music to soothe the soul

I may not chime the hour
but I have my own charms

She hears my call and
joins me for a cup of tea

Always remembers her sister
when she listens to me

© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil

My dear friend Sherry Blue Sky turned me on to this prompt. Hannah Gosslein (known to many of us as “Sweet Hannah” offered a prompt at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, to inhabit the spirit of a forest plant or creature. I made a detour and chose something that is affected by nature, the humble wind chime. A friend had some that were indeed forged and flattened forks and spoons, leftovers from an old family set, and it left a definitely impression on me. Thanks, Hannah! Peace, Amy

TWOFER: Gathering and a limerick

25 Jul 2012 14 Comments

by Sharp Little Pencil in POETRY Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

This is a twofer Wednesday for me. (Woofer Wednesday? Dog days of summer?) Both short poems, each for a different site. Peace to all, Amy

FOR WE WRITE POEMS

Gathering

Birds shelter
Squirrels, helter-skelter
Leaves reveal silver underbellies

Thunder
Hallelujah!
Rain

© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil

We Write Poems requested a poem employed brevity: no more than 12 words. Suffering through a prolonged drought, I’ve prayed constantly for some rain to help our small farmers here in the Midwest. Hooray, it rained twice this past few days… even now, a fresh, ozone-tinged breeze brings the good news to my window. (Viv, I hope your rain is coming my way!)

FOR MAD KANE’S BLOG

Semantics vs. Values

The Right don’t mind sweatshops in China
So what’s the big deal ‘bout “vagina”?
There’s no room for maybes
They cannot make babies
Without women’s penis combinah

© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
With all the problems in our country, the Right chose to censor two members of Congress for uttering the word “vagina” in speeches. But they still reserve the supposed right to legislate what I do with mine. Maddening! For Madeleine Begun Kane’s Political Madness, because she loves limericks and is my acknowledge queen of that genre. Do yourself and favor – click on her link and get ready to laugh. Really hard. And maybe be a little outraged! She’s a gem! Peace, Amy

monday’s forecast

01 May 2012 33 Comments

by Sharp Little Pencil in POETRY Tags: , , , , , , ,

monday’s forecast

thick, ornery clouds gather
on my mental horizon
chasing my fanciful birds into trees
sending all manner of wild wildlife
into hiding, seeking sanctuary
even the chipmunk on the edge plays
“duck and cover” under the back stoop

it’s coming, the lack of light
of life as I like it
a tunnel, an abyss where
bliss is forbidden
and bright eyes dim to
an absent stare
a slackened jaw, a slacker me

i turn to my bible hoping for answers
“even though i walk in the
valley of the shadow of death
i will fear no… no…”
no words for this condition
no balm in this gilead
no spirit to comfort me

© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil

For Sunday Scribblings, the prompt was “Storm.” This poem started out as a real, physical storm and ended up, as with many of my offerings, with the onset of a bout of depression. Not so much a storm as a sea change, I suppose, but the warning clouds feel the same – and once the faucets open, it might as well be raining.  Buckets.

The Balancing Act of Life

15 Nov 2011 45 Comments

by Sharp Little Pencil in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , ,

The Balancing Act of Life

Hovering before a feeder full of suet,
the hummingbird’s wings beat so fast,,
she appears motionless. Magic.

Nearby, a birdhouse swivels on its chain
in the autumn breeze, abandoned for
the rapidly approaching winter.

The bees are past “Last Call,” so drunk
they’ll sting anything. They dawdle near
the last bloom of a faded coral rose in
a pointless quest for long-gone nectar.

Geese overheard, perfectly aligned,
their kazoo music a comic horn section.
Yet, behold their strength in numbers,
their impeccable, strategic teamwork.
They know travail; they seek only survival.

The eloquent, full-throated conversation of
lark and sparrow, cuckoo and crow
owl and cricket, long since stifled by
the reality of the season. One misses
their conversation over morning coffee
or evening cabernet. Now we watch the mist
mask and reveal, mask and reveal the Moon,
pee-a-boo in the night sky.

We’ll take in the birdfeeders soon, our fingers
deftly cleaning all crevices before storage for Spring.
We will look for the few creatures of the deep freeze:
Deer, gratefully nibbling apples we left on the
low-hanging branches, rabbits scavenging
what they can, squirrels twirling in the trees.

This balancing act of life serves as show and
as life lesson: Hard work and beauty are equals
in Nature. Symmetry. The dance. The point.

© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil

For The Sunday Whirl, with thanks to Brenda for the Wordle: Bees, balance, cleaning, coral, point, strength, finger, motionless, eloquent, rapidly, swivel, safety. Also at my poetic home away from home, Poets United.

Deer One (Poetic Bloomings)

20 Jul 2011 26 Comments

by Sharp Little Pencil in Free Verse, Madison, Nature, poetic bloomings Tags: , , , ,

This is my first post for Poetic Bloomings, begun as a joint venture by Marie Elena and Walt, two of the first poets I met at Poetic Asides.  Their story is unique in that they have never actually met – but collaborate often.  They are seeking poems of beauty and goodness; they post prompts.  They are accentuating the positive, so I’m probably the last person they will expect to see, LOL.  Peace, Amy

Deer One

She drifts blithely through the trees
just beyond our parking lot.

She is the only, lonely deer of Tenney Park,
situated between apartment complexes which
must seem to her monoliths inhabited by aliens.

I call her Deer One.

Neighbor Lynne, soft spot for all living things,
feeds her birdseed, her snack of choice.
I know they say we should not encourage species
to live where they should not be, but frankly:
She was here first. We built around her habitat.
She is a Native American.

The other day, I spied Deer One
and she spied me.
We froze in one of those moments of
curiosity (mixed with dread on her part, perhaps).

I backed into my apartment and retrieved
the ripest apple I could find and,
gently,
rolled it across the parking lot.
It skipped the curb, landing at her feet.

I could swear she smiled at me!
I went to my car, humming, “When I See An Elephant Fly.”

© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil

The Mallards (Poetic Asides)

21 Jun 2011 25 Comments

by Sharp Little Pencil in Nature, Poetic Asides, Poets United Tags: , , ,

Poetic Asides put out a call for welcoming poems. Apropos, since Robert and his wife Tammy welcomed their daughter Hannah Marie into the world this week! I used a form for the first time, one which builds from one syllable to ten (and in this case, down again); however, I cannot remember what the form is called, sorry. This poem is also at my poetic home, Poets United. Peace, Amy

The Mallards

I
welcome
distraction,
unexpected
moments in life:
A sudden coffee jones,
his surprise kiss on my neck
leading to unscheduled bliss.
Moonlit nights, quiet patio talks…
And every day, two ducks who waddle by.
Mallards come and go as they please,
making their way to the pond,
diving for daily meals.
Ducks are good neighbors,
unflappable.
Perfect mates,
souls at
peace.

© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil

The Beach at San Juan (Thurs Think Tank)

16 Jun 2011 22 Comments

by Sharp Little Pencil in Nature, Night, Poets United, Prompts, Romance, San Juan Tags: , , , , ,

For Poets United, Thursday Think Tank, we were asked to think about the beach. I’ve lived in Santa Monica, where many nights were spent on the beach (under various influences); Bermuda, where the sand really IS pink… but for my money, there was a romance in the salt air of Puerto Rico that remains unmatched. No offense to Bermuda or LA! Amy

 

THE BEACH AT SAN JUAN

San Juan beach at twilight
Strolling barefoot on cool sand
Sandals looped round my finger
Arm round the waist of a sweet soul
Head resting on his shoulder

We stop to regard the city from this place
The casinos at full tilt, the street filled with tourists
Then, as lovers do, we turn away and disregard
the frantic pace and rumble of night life
to discover and rediscover the essence of closeness

The sky holds a sliver of silver, stars shining all the more
for the moon’s modest reflection
Tide moving gently, water licking our toes

We sit in silence/not silence
Rhythm of a shared heart
Swish of Corona sipped from bottles
Breeze playing brushes on tall palms
air tinged with salt and
heavy with jasmine
filled with promise

© Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil

Twilight Ablaze

30 May 2011 31 Comments

by Sharp Little Pencil in Nature, Night, Poets United, Prompts Tags: , , , , , ,

From Brenda Warren’s blog, A Wordling Whirl of Sundays (a new favorite prompt of mine – check it out!).  Words from the Wordle form appear in bold within my poem.  Check Brenda’s blog to see what other poets came up with, and to view the actual Wordle block, which for some reason would not reproduce here.  Peace, Amy

 

Twilight Ablaze

Deep in this planet’s twilight,
a confidently striding soul has fallen.
His head came up against a heavy branch; both cracked.
Now he lies still.

His cigarette smolders,
its sparks set dry leaves afire.

A light breeze spreads flames as
the night wind tails toward the valley below,
turning a slight accident into
the full-throated cry of hundreds of neighbors
afraid their homes will not be spared.

© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil

This poem is also at Poets United, my poetic collective home.  Click on their link and discover a WORLD of amazing poets!

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